Prevention

There is a huge degree of maintaining the desire of making your life better, and this is the basic requirement to "our way" of treating chronic pain here at IPC.

All patients are thoroughly informed of what is expected of them should they choose to begin a pain management program at our clinic.  You and Dr. Purtzer will incorporate a detailed conference where you will thoroughly discuss all prescribed medications for your specific needs, and the precise use of any and all medications.  The patient must understand and agree to comply with all the rules discussed. 

You will also discuss and learn thoroughly the principles of IPC pain management.  If the doctor and you choose to utilize opiate medication as a portion of your treatment, you will be required to read and sign an opiate contract, and also discuss the following possibilities:  The potential of the development of an addiction disorder.   The patient will need to understand that the use of opiates on a long-term basis for chronic benign pain is still controversial.  Patients may develop complications with the use of prescribed opiates.  The patient needs to understand that there are potential and significant risks including, but not limited to, addiction, dependency, hormonal imbalance, and other psychological and/or physical difficulties with the continued use of opiates for any period of time.  The patient must also understand that detoxification and possibly treatment for addiction disorders in an inpatient facility may be required in order to suddenly stop the use of opiates.  The patient must understand that pain management with opiates is palliative in nature and is for symptomatic relief only.  It does not cure or fix any condition. 

All patients must understand that functional improvements must be made in addition to the use of any prescribed opiates.  The patient will understand that ongoing patient education and personal quality of life improvement must be attempted in addition to the use of these opiates. 

After full informed consent, if you wish to proceed with the prescribed opiate therapy as outlined by Dr. Purtzer in his treatment report after a thorough patient examination and a thorough review of all required medical records in an effort to relieve your pain and suffering, to improve your quality of life and your functional status, then your treatment will begin.   Each and every question will be encouraged and answered.